CONFERENCE ENDS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1932, Page 5

CONFERENCE ENDS

PACTS SIGNED BY PARTICIPATING DOMINIONS.

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Teiegraph— Copyright.)

V " OTTAWA, August 20.' The Ottawa Oonterence ended to-day with a ninety minutes’ plenary -session of a oeremomai character in the Hou-e of Commons Chambers, where the Conference \vas \ opened. Tue galleries were crowded largely with the delegates’ women folk. A table was- placed in the centre of the Oil-amber for tlie lenders of the 'delegations. Mr Bennett was the chairman, and on his right were Messrs Baldwin, Coates,

o‘Kel]y and Chatterjee, and on his right -ware Messrs Bruce, Havenga,, Alderdice, and Moffatt. The assemblage stood while Mr Bennett read an address- to the King conveying an as-, surance of devotion and affection from the Empire peoples, Britain, Colon, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India, Newfoundland, and Southern Rhodesia,

INo mention was made of the fact that the Free State is the only delegation which has not made an agreement with Britain.

The heads of delegations proceeded to tiigu the agreement* in duplicate, Parliamentary officers carrying beribboned and sealed documents to each delegate in turn, Mi* Bennett announced that, “as a special tribute to the son of the * man whose inspired vision made the present results possible,” Mr Neville Chamberlain would sign Britain’s agreement with Canada. There was an outburst of cheering when Mr Chamberlain stepped forward. Mr Baldwin, in giving Up liis -seat, patted Mr Chamberlain on the back, paternally. Mr Bennett presented Mr Baldwin with a magnificent salver of locallymade Canadian silver bearing the signatures of the delegates, a® a birthday gift. He said Mr Baldwin -was born in the same, year as the Canadian Confederation came into being. He was a distinguished figure in public life, literature and other fields., Immediately afterwards, Mr Baldwin, taking Mr Bennett complete by surprise, returned the compliment by presenting Mr Bennett with a massive silver salver of - equal magnificence, .as a mark of the delegates’ appreciation for Mr Bennett’s services and chairmanship. '

Mr Bruce briefly added a tribute to Mr Baldwin’s leadership, and moved a vote of thanks to .the secretariat. Mr Havenga, seconding,' said Mr Bennett had needed the patience of Joh. Mr Baldwin remarked • It is curious how topical of the-.Conference' the Ottawa ' Weather‘has been far the past month. We opened with blue skies and sunshine l wo hav© also had atoms, thunder ,and lightning, und war© very nearly washed but, but we are finishing on the most beautiful day we have yet 'had. That is an omen.” Mr Baldwin said Mr Bennett possessed the power to drive and grasp of detail essential /at a conference like this. Mr Havenga had rightly said Mr Bennett needed the patience of Job, 'but that did not mean that Canada had a monopoly of Jobs (Laughter). He was immensely relieved that the Conference had finished in time. If it' had not finished in time, there was the danger, of no agreement being reached at all, seeing that there were limits to 'human strength and/ patience. He spoke feelingly of Canada’s amazing hospitality, and continued that he felt convinced and gratified that they had erected a fair and stable edifice. We have learned more than ever each other’s difficulties and each other’s viewpoints. It now remains for us to work out in practice, with sanity and forbearance, what we have achieved on paper. I hope these ideals will always characterise members of the British Commonwealth, so that those who come after us may say they builded better than they knew.” Mr Bruce seoonded Mr Baldwin’s motion and expressed appreciation of the Canadians’ -hospitality. He said Mr Bennett’s forceful personality had been tho mainspring of the Conference. The success achieved was largely due to his guidance. He continued: .“We came here with firm hopes and a determination to succeed. We have succeeded. We believe we have made some contribution to a restoration of the prosperity of the Empire and the whole world also.” Mr Bruce added; “We have carried out the negotiations on a basis of trying to promote mutual trade, not of placing barriers around ourselves, but aiming at lowering barriers and promoting freer interchange of goods. It is a great t hing that had emerged from this Conference.”

Mr Coates said that the Conference had. called for patience and tolerance on i the part of every delegate. It would result in great advantages ~ for the Dominion’. He continued 1 : “The foundations have been laid for an ultimate 'restoration of the welfare of our peoples. I am confident that the Ottawa Conference will prove a turning point in the world's present sad troubled condition.” Mr iS'ean O’Kelly said: “Whatever r i,ar,~ o that, the futui- my firing politically for the Irish Free .State, we, shall retain our determination to establish closer bonds between Irishmen and Canadians. This is a ,-ple.ndid end to a .most difficult undertaking.. Our parting prayer is: “God prosper the Canadian nation!’’ Mr Bennett, responding to the vote of thanks, said ; “I have only one re-

gret, jnamelv, that the Irish Free State delegation have experienced difficulties at this Conference, The Free State delegates have not mentioned those difficulties, and they have established .the. mO'"t .cordial relations. Any differences have been purely official, and not personal. 'I hope that their presence at the, Ottawa Conference will be a prelude to the solution of all .their troubles. All have not achieved what they haved hoped. It would be unreasonable to expect that, but we. have followed a path pointed by faith and hope.” Before declaring the Conference closed, Mr Bennett read His Majesty's reply to the loyal message amid tense silence, the whole assembly standing. The King said : “You.r work has Ijeen arduous and intricate, but I rejoice to think your achievement has justified the high expectations with which the Conference began, and that you have been able not only to conclude important practical agreements for the promotion of trade within the Empire, but also to adopt principles to help its (future development, lan confident the results of your labours and the ■spirit of co-operation and mutual helpfulness which has brought about, th-'ir success wili ho « ro.-.l benefit to ivy peoples. I wish you all godspeed and a safe .anti happy, journey homeward."